Lawmakers Urge Administration to Support Biodiesel

Dozens of lawmakers have sent letters to the White House calling for an increase in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2013.

A bipartisan group of 60 members of Congress on both the Senate side and the House signed letters urging the Obama Administration to follow through with the EPA’s proposal to increase the biodiesel volume requirement under the RFS next year.

“The skyrocketing gas prices we’re seeing should remind us all why Congress – with overwhelming bipartisan support – started the RFS in the first place, which was to diversify our energy supplies and limit our vulnerability to just these kinds of price spikes,” said Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs at the National Biodiesel Board. “This is strong energy policy and we shouldn’t shy away from it now.”

At issue is an EPA proposal to increase the biodiesel volume requirement under the RFS to 1.28 billion gallons in 2013. Late last year, the Obama Administration delayed the decision, saying it needs further review, and the EPA could issue a final rule within weeks. Biodiesel has been a highlight of the RFS so far, exceeding its volume requirement last year with record production of 1.1 billion gallons. An Administration decision to rescind the modest increase to 1.28 billion gallons would stunt the industry’s growth and likely lead to plant closures and thousands of lost jobs.